การมีส่วนร่วมทางการเมืองในระดับท้องถิ่นของผู้หญิงในเขตเทศบาลตำบลบ้านแม อำเภอสันป่าตอง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate and describe the women's participation in local politics of Banmae Subdistrict Municipality, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. Another aim is to study and analyse the factors affecting the women's participation in local politics of Banmae Subdistrict Municipality. In addition, the findings of the study could be used to develop the participation in local politics and the potentials of the local women. This mixed methods research employed questionnaire survey to collect the data from 377 samples in Banmae Subdistrict. Moreover, 46 women, including official and non - official leaders and the officials at Banmae Subdistrict Municipality, participated in the in - depth interviews. The findings revealed that in general women in Banmae Subdistrict Municipality participated in local politics by taking part in voting in the elections of the mayor and members of the Municipality. They also established a women development group and a public health volunteer group. Furthermore, they followed the politi news from local media and the champaign of the mayor and municipality member candidates. Furthermore, the women in the study participated in the campaign promoting people to vote in the mayor and municipality member election, attended the meetings to voice their opinions in planning the activities for the community development, participated in other activities with the community and the municipality, became committee members in different sections in the community administration, and ran for the municipality member election. ฉ For the factors affecting the women's participation in local politics of Banmae Subdistrict Municipality, it was found that the main factor affecting the women to participate in local politics was personal factor. That is they were supported by members of their family, relatives, and respectable local people. When women had knowledge, became more interested in politics, were ready in terms of education and financial situations, and took part in supporting and developing the society, these women, thus, became well aware of problems and needs of the people. Consequently, they wanted to participate in the local politics to demonstrate their roles and potentials, and to be accepted by the society. Cultural and social factors are other factors. These factors demonstrated that Thai society did not block women to participate in politics. In other words, the society has accepted women as they had negotiation skills and more women have had higher education and became successful in their careers. There were also other factors, for example, the Thai Constitution (2540 and 2550 BE) and the 10th Economic and Social Development Plan (2550 - 2554 BE) which has promoted the equality between women and men, especially, the roles of women in every level of administration. In addition, the human rights laws related to the participation of women in politics allowed more women to have confident to take part in politics. Finally, the decentralization principles have allowed the people to express their opinions and take part in problems solving to respond to the needs of the people. From the study, therefore, it can be suggested that there should be 6 guidelines to develop the women's participation in local politics of Banmae Subdistrict Municipality as well as their potentials: 1. Cultivate political consciousness in women. 2. Create political awareness in participation in politics in women. 3. Adjust attitudes and beliefs in women and politics. 4. Build political education networks for women. 5. Create information system promoting education and understanding in politics. 6. Support women's participation in politics.